Patient Immunomonitoring I – Navigating the Maze of Techniques

WHY?

Understanding the immune status of patients in response to diseases and treatments is essential for advancing clinical and epidemiological research. Patient immunomonitoring, or immunosurveillance, represents a critical toolbox by identifying predictive biomarkers, mapping disease exposure, and measuring the strength and durability of immune responses. However, the complexity and variety of available methodologies can overwhelm clinical immunologists, hindering their ability to choose the most appropriate techniques for specific research questions.

WHAT?

This course aims to bridge this gap by providing clinical immunologists a bird’s eye view on the diverse techniques used in immunomonitoring. It covers the entire sample flow from collection, preservation, purification to measurements, and (dis)advantages and pitfalls of various methods, enabling participants to design robust immunomonitoring studies. The course leverages the expertise of the Clinical Immunology Unit at ITM and its partners, focusing on infectious diseases and low-resource settings.

FOR WHOM?

The course is designed for clinical immunologists working or planning to work in the field of patient immunomonitoring, particularly those involved in infectious diseases research in both high- and low-resource settings. Participants are required to have a Master’s degree in biomedical/clinical sciences and a strong background in human immunology.

HOW?

Delivered online, the course includes expert-led video seminars, self-assessment questions, an interactive forum and a self-study component. During the course, participants will have access to an online platform for ongoing knowledge sharing and collaboration. Final assessment includes a multiple-choice exam and the creation of a lab analytical plan for a given research scenario, ensuring participants can apply their learning effectively.